Shelf-wrapper.



No. 824,?71. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906 S. BPWRIGHTY SHELF WRAPPER.

APFLIGATIOE FILED DEG-19. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT canon.

EBEN E. \NRIf-ll ll, OF VVA'lERTOW'N, NEW YORK, ASSlGNOlt Tl) W ILDA M. lVRIGrHT, OF WATERTONN, NEW YORK.

SHELF-WRAPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed Beceniher 19 984, Berial No. 231405.

To all when it ma'y concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN E.WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVat-ertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelf-Vrappers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin shelf-wrappers, and has for its object the provision of a wrapper or carton to be used by dry-goods merchants and the like for the protection of all classes of fabrics and cloth goods from dust, soiling, fading, or shelfwear.

A further object is to provide a shelf-wrapper which may be folded up or unfolded to receive or display fabrics and similar goods without waste of time or tedious labor and which may be fastened and unfastcned in a simple and ready manner.

Another object is to provide a sholf-Wr'ap per which is cap able of being enlarged or contracted, so as to facilitate the housing and protection of bolts or parcels of fabrics of different size, without requiring any alteration of the wrapper itself.

The invention consists in features of construction hereinafter described and then sought to be clearly defined by the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved shelf-wrapper, showing the form of the same when opened, also showing the overlapping edges of the cloth covering. Fi 2 is a view showing. the wrapper partia ly folded. Fig. 3 is a view showing the wrapper completely folded, also the manner of applying and exemplifying the fastening means. Fig. 4 is a detail of the end flap or wing, showing the manner of folding its edges or sides. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the metallic fastener.

Similar-reference-numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings, and in which 2 represents the complete shelf-wrapper, which consists of the central body portion 3, the side wings or flaps 4 and 5, and the end flap 6, all of which are preferably formed from a single piece of thin flexible pasteboard, cardboard, or thick Manila paper. The external or exposed surface of the paper or board is covered or overlaid with a layer of tough fabric, the surrounding edges 8 of which overlap slightly the inner surface of the paper portion, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The flaps 4, 5, and 6 all fold substanr tially on the dotted lines 7. The fabric rovering or mounting is preferably pasted or glued to the paper or board in a secure man- 119-1.

9 represents a piece of cloth or fabric which is pasted to and covers the inner surface of the end flap or wing 6 as well a portion of the main body portion 3, to which it is also pasted. The flap or wing 6 is also provided with the foidable sides or Wings 10, running lengthwise of the wrapper, and these are intended to fold inwardly on the dotted lines 16', and in order to facilitate their folding the slits 11 are made through the paper and outer cloth covering, extending from the outer edge on each side of flap 6 inwardly to the dotted lines 10. The cloth lining or facing 9 is not slittod, and the portions of the said lining which extend over the foldable sides 16 of lie) 6 are unpasted or free, the object of the lining 9 being to form a sort of hinge for the flap 6, which is weakened somewhat at the point Where it joins the main body 3 by the slits l1, and at the same time by reason of the free edges 9 said iming 9 forms a guard to keep out dust, &c., when flap 6 is folded to the smaller size, as indicated by the dotted lines 10.

In Fig. 3 and in the enlarged detail Fig. 5, 12 represents a metallic fastener or catch having a slotted opening 13 through which the attaching or securim strap 14 passes. This strap is then folded double, and its ends are secured to the flap 4 of the wrapper by means of the rivet 15. More or less than two of the fasteners may be employed for the differentsized wrappers, and other suitable means of securing the same may be used.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 16 16 represent the bindin s traps or cords. These are secured to the ask of the wrapperbody by means of the rivets 17 17. The straps or cords 16 are preferably made of flat strips of woven tape or hraidof a suitable length and strength to eifect the tying or binding of the wrapper by drawing theni tightly into the cleft 18 of the fasteners. The cleft or slit 18 is made narrow toward its inner point, so that when the binding tape or cord 16 is drawn into it with some force it will be held tightly and prevent the slipping or slackening of the tape, and thereby the opening or unfoldin of the flaps 4, 5, and 6. By the use of the astener 12 and the tape 16 the binding or tying of the wrapper into a close and compact package or parcel may be accomplished more quickl than by the methods formerly emplo e for the purpose, and the opening or und oing of the wrapper may likewise be accomplished practically instantaneously by simply slip ing the tape back out of the cleft 1.8. he projecting lug or portion 19 of the fastener is bent or turned upward slightly at 20 for the purpose of guiding the tape 16 into the cleft 18. This provision enables the clerk or operator to effect the binding or tying of the wrapper without having to lift up the metallic plate 12. The slot or hole 13 in the fastener is located in such position that when the tape 16 is drawn into cleft 18 the fastener lies oris held at right angles to wrapper, as shown in Fig. 3. The dotted line in Fig. 5 shows the direction of the strain on the fastener when the cor or tape 16 is drawn taut. In Fig. 3, 21 represents a bolt of cloth or fabric inclosed in the wrapper.

When a bolt or roll of fabric has been reduced to a small size, the small wings or flap's of wing 6 are folded inwardly, so that the package, wrapper and all, may be made more com act, so as to take up less room on a shelf. wo small bolts may be placed in the one wrapper for the purpose of lessening the number of packages.

One end of my improved shelf-wrapper is left open, so as to show at a glance the color or quality of the goods inclosed therein, the selvage ed e of the fabrics always being placed at tie open end. I may prefer to prpivide afourth flap to inclose the said open en It will be obvious to any one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the invention that I have shown and described without departing from the spirit of the same, and I therefore do not restrict myself to the recise construction herein shown and descri ed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A shelf-wrapper comprising a central body portion having folding flaps along the sides thereof and an end folding flap, formed with inwardly-folding side wings, said end flap being provided with supplemental inwardlyfolding wings which extend from the end flap to and upon the central body portion to form a dust guard, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EBEN E. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

HARRY DE WALAC, EDGAR V. BLOODOUGH. 

